"You just follow your parents beliefs"

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I've always mostly agreed with my parents on political issues. They seem to be smart about it. I've always been a left winger, but my whole life I've been fed democratic views, and republican views mostly seem ridiculous.
But would I think the same way if I was raised by republicans? Let's say I was the son of a big business owner. I wouldn't understand what it was like to worry about financial problems.
I know a girl who was raised by republicans but she's pretty left wing.
It is nature to learn from things around us as we grow.
Thoughts?

You grow up believing what you're parents tell you, they are your personal translator of world events.
As you grow up you realize they're full of "it".
As an adult you make your own decisions or make no decisions at all (like most aspies do).
And when you die you realize that everyone hates you, and you were an idiot to ever trust them.

Sorry if that killed the optimistic tone you had going, but its better to be wise and dead than dumb and dreaming.

my family goes republican because of financial problems, my dad says democrats like to raise taxes.

but I dont really care either way.

Personality types combined with environment? Some people are followers
and/or people pleasers and some are rebels & some are in between those
extremes. I think a person's unique experiences might sometimes lead them
to sway in one direction or another, combined with developmental stages.
Plus there are other parties now besides Dem. or Rep. like Independent,
Green, including the non ticket ones like anarchists, communists, etc. I guess
I am thinking somewhat globally rather than strictly US. The "norm" at least
in my life experience is that many kids go along with their parents in early
childhood, and then either stray off and rebel, or stick firmly with their parents
leanings, as they mature. Of course there are variables. My parents were
divided, and I was so confused that I never knew who to follow or please!
I just wanted everyone to get along and act like adults
They didn't really give a hoot whether I rebelled either, so I had to learn to
take life day by day, and not worry if I agreed with someone or not politically
I just follow my gut instinct and stick with what I feel comfortable with.

You very well might follow republican ideas if you were raised by republicans. It really depends upon what things they taught you and your environment as well as perhaps some biological issues. The fact of the matter is that your moral view on the world was likely very much implanted into you by your parents and that will have great impact on your political outlook, the basic worldview will have an impact somewhat as well. I do not think you are where you are because your opponents have no intelligence or knowledge. I wouldn't be surprised that there are people out there of all political persuasions who could literally crush me in political argumentation, I don't think that you are in a different position.

One of my parents is a democrat and one is a republican so I don't have the luxury of just being able to parrot my parents' beliefs.

Well my parents probably wouldn't identify themselves as Republicans but they voted for Bush. It's kind of funny now since my dad has discovered Michael Moore and has gravitated in that direction a bit now and he voted Bush twice. My dad has a weird personal hatred of Bill Clinton as well for some reason. He'll still probably vote Republican next time because lack of real candidate for the democrats. His idol his whole life has been Jesse Ventura from wrestling, acting, to politics. My mom really doesn't follow it too closely I don't think. She voted for Nader is 2000 and Bush second time around. She doesn't really know what to do now. She likes McCain and Guiliani though I know that.

As for me parroting their beliefs? Not really. Use to a bit because that was all I really knew but I don't identify with either party and dislike the whole idea of political parties to begin with. I'm still growing in my beliefs so yea, can't exactly say where I stand for sure. I probably follow it more closely than they do.

Dunno if this is just a British thing, or it might be just my family even, but as far as I recall, it was always considered a bit rude to discuss your own political leanings, or tell people how you voted.

Are things really that polarized across the pond that people can be wholly republican, or wholly democrat in their beliefs? Most people seem to be more.."I'm mostly one, but I also favour this principle and that principle from somewhere else.. I like X parties immigration stance, but Y party has better tax ideas.." For that matter.. it seems a bit strange that people coud be raised as democrats or republicans.. that it could affect so much of someones life that it can be spoken of almost like a religious choice. I notice that a lot of americans say "I'm a democrat" in the same way you might say "I'm a catholic." All seems a bit fanatical to me.

no way. my parents are clowns and hardly know how to function like normal freaking adults. i might have my quirks and odditys but i turned out way better than they'll ever be

My parents always voted Conservative & worked for the party. My siblings always voted with our parents and still do. In fact, when Thatcher was deposed one of my sisters cried all evening about (now that is depressing!).

I could never be that rigid and I've voted everything from Conservative, Labour, LibDem, Green, depending on the particular issues and whether they are local or national or even international elections. I've also voted tactically to try and get a particularly obnoxious candidate ousted or where there are some policies that I am deeply against.

In fact, I'm the archetypal floating voter.

I was never sure what my parents beleifs were when I was a kid. They were typically more liberal than anything but it all depended on which side of the bread their butter was on. There was no predictable pattern or hard fast rules to any of their values. Even so much as a convincing sounding talk show guest could sway them from one side to the other. I tried to follow it but there was nothing consistant or predicable to follow. I have to have at least some consistancy and standard values.
To me, not having that is to not have values.